Buttermilk: what it is and how to use it

Buttermilk is an ingredient little known to Brazilian chefs. However, it is very useful for some recipes that you will definitely like to try.

Therefore, to find out what buttermilk is, find out how to make the ingredient and some recipes that use it, continue reading until the end.

What is Buttermilk?

Firstly, it is very important to understand what buttermilk is. The reason for this is quite simple: the term, in addition to being in another language, is also not very common in Brazilian cuisines.

Therefore, based on this principle, buttermilk, or the literal, butter milk, is a liquid obtained from beating the cream of milk, previously adjusting its fat content, in butter. Here, in Brazil, it can be called buttermilk.

In general terms, the butter preparation process must be carried out carefully so as not to raise the temperature too much. If this happens, there will be a decrease in the size of the fat globules causing a decrease in butter yield.

Furthermore, the acidity content – buttermilk is considered acidic, sour – also interferes with the production of butter. Traditionally it was the liquid left behind after extracting the butter from the cured cream, however these days most buttermilk is 'cultured'. 

You will hear a lot about this product in hot regions where fresh, unrefrigerated milk sours more quickly.

How to make buttermilk

Making homemade buttermilk is not difficult, however, you will need heavy cream or fresh cream.

Take a food processor and beat the cream or cream for 10 minutes. The result will be a ball-shaped dough made from butter, but liquid will remain at the bottom of the processor. This is buttermilk, or buttermilk.

However, it is very important that you know that although it is simple to make, you may have some problems finding the cream, or even the cream. Therefore, it is possible to make a 'fake buttermilk' that works in the same way, despite not being the same.

This fake buttermilk is very easy to make to replace the original during the production of your dish. To do this, you will need a curd made only with milk and vinegar – or lemon too.

The step-by-step process is as follows: Place 1 cup of milk at room temperature in a container, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and mix. Let it rest for 10 minutes out of the fridge until curdled. And that's it, the curd is ready.

However, a very important warning is: the curd must be used immediately to be made.

Recipes with buttermilk

The recipes where you will use buttermilk are mostly sweet. However, you may find a dish that has an ingredient that is made with buttermilk.

This short list has some very tasty options of different sweets for you to try buttermilk and find out if there is, and if so, what is the difference in the flavor of your dessert or sweet.

• Chocolate shortbread cake
• Red Velvet Cupcake

However, it is important to note that these are just a few recipes for you to use as an example of the use of buttermilk. Therefore, you will be able to find several other recipes. Therefore, see this list as tips for a starting point for you.

Chocolate shortbread cake

Chocolate Buttermilk Shortbread Cake is a delicious and indulgent option for chocolate lovers. Therefore, it has a moist and soft texture that melts in your mouth, and is full of chocolate flavor.

The ingredients are:

• Cake
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 200g salted butter
• 4 spoons of cocoa powder
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ cup buttermilk*
• 2 eggs
• 1 spoon of vanilla
• 1 spoon of baking powder

Roof:

• 175 g of butter
• 4 spoons of cocoa powder
• 6 spoons of milk
• 1 spoon of vanilla
• 3 ½ cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Note: Soup spoons and tea cups.

The preparation method is very easy to follow, do the following:

In a bowl mix the flour, sugar and salt. In a pan, melt the butter and add the cocoa. Mix very well. Add the boiling water and stir well. Finish by letting the mixture boil for 30 seconds and then turn off the heat.

Now, pour in the flour mixture and stir lightly. In a bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla and yeast. Mix well and add to the chocolate mixture. 

Finally, pour everything into a mold, no need to grease it. The fire must be preheated to 180C for around 30 to 40 minutes.

Melt the butter for the topping in a pan. Add the cocoa, mix and turn off the oven. Add the milk, vanilla and icing sugar. Stir well and pour over the still hot cake. When cool, sprinkle with walnuts.

Cupcake Red Velvet

Red Velvet cupcake with buttermilk is a delicious miniature dessert that is popular all over the world. It has a soft, moist texture and a slightly sweet, slightly tart flavor, thanks to the addition of buttermilk to the dough.

The Red Velvet cupcake has a characteristic red color, which is obtained by adding red food coloring to the dough. It is often decorated with a creamy cream cheese frosting, which complements the cake's smooth, slightly tart flavor.

The ingredients are:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 spoon of baking powder
• 1/4 spoon of salt
• 1 spoon of baking soda
• 2 sticks of butter (100 g each)
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 spoon of vanilla essence
• 1 spoon of red food coloring

Note: Soup spoons and tea cups.

The preparation method is as follows:

In a bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pass the ingredients through a sieve, then mix the butter and sugar well with a mixer.

Then add the eggs, one by one, always beating well in sequence. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture. Now add the buttermilk and again, mix well. However, to finish, add the coloring and vanilla essence.

However, it is still important that you pour the batter into the cupcake liners. Do this carefully, filling each one halfway, as they will grow in the meantime. Finally, place in the preheated oven at 180C for around 20 minutes.

Conclusion

In short, using buttermilk can make your dish, most likely a dessert, softer and more flavorful. So, be sure to get these two recipe tips, as well as how to prepare your homemade buttermilk.
Continue with the Kitchen Manual to read more articles like this, such as Risotto Recipes.